Mortgage Rates Start the Year Lower

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The 30-year mortgage rate fell this week for the first time since the presidential election, dropping 12 basis points to 4.20 percent. This marks the first time since 2014 that mortgage rates opened the year above 4 percent. Despite this week’s breather, the 66-basis point increase in the mortgage rate since November 3, is taking its toll–the MBA’s refinance index plunged 22 percent this week.